Creating the Sponsons

Modeling an Airplane

Finishing the Plane

 

Autodesk 3ds Max Tutorials >  Modeling Tutorials > Modeling an Airplane > 

Creating the Gondola

The plane is starting to look like a P-38, but it's missing the central gondola, the pilot cockpit. You will create the gondola using the same techniques you learned when you shaped the sponson. To ensure that the gondola is symmetrical, you'll use the Symmetry modifier.

Load a start file:

• Continue from the previous lesson, Creating the Sponsons , or you can load p38_build_gondola.max found in the \tutorials\p38_lightning folder.

Create the gondola:

1. Go to the Create panel, and on the Object Type rollout, click to turn on Cylinder.

   If you're continuing from the previous lesson, make sure AutoGrid is turned off.

2. In the Front viewport, drag out a cylinder over the gondola, until the radius approximately matches the height of the gondola in the background image.

   Watch in the Top viewport as you drag the height of the cylinder, since the Front viewport will not show any difference.

   

3. Edit the cylinder's parameters, as follows:
   • Height Segments=9
   • Cap Segments=2
   • Sides=10
4. In the Name And Color rollout, name the object gondola.
5. If necessary, move the gondola object in the Top viewport so the top lines up with the trailing edge of the wing.

   

   Line up the cylinder with the trailing edge of the wing.

6. On the Modify panel, adjust the height of the cylinder so it is even with the end of the sponsons, as illustrated below.

   

   Start with a cylinder.

Shape the gondola:

1. Go to the Display panel, and hide everything but the gondola by clicking Hide Unselected in the Hide rollout.
2. Go to the Modify panel. In the modifier stack, right-click Cylinder and choose Convert To: Editable Poly.

   Now you can reposition the vertices over the background images.

3. On the Selection rollout, click Vertex.
4. Starting at the rear of the gondola, in the Left viewport and do the following:
   • Select the leftmost column of vertices.
   • On the toolbar, choose Non-Uniform Scale from the Scale flyout.
   • Scale them to the approximate size to match the background image.
   • Move them down to match the background image as well. Alternate between scaling and moving as you work your way forward.

     

     Scale and move the vertices to match the background.

     

     Placement of vertices from Left viewport.

5. With all that work done, save your scene as myp38_gondola.max.
6. Activate the Top viewport and repeat the previous process. Select one row of vertices at a time and position them over the background image using Scale and Move tools. Using the Transform gizmo, scale each row only along the X axis.

   

   Vertex scaling and placement from the Top viewport.

7. In preparation of building the canopy, move and scale columns of vertices to match the outline of the cockpit in the Left viewport.

   

   The 4th, 5th and 6th columns of vertices are moved and scaled.

8. Activate the Perspective viewport and start creating the nose by selecting the single vertex at the center of the cylinder cap. Then turn on Soft Selection and adjust the Falloff so the next ring of vertices turns yellow.

   

9. While watching the Left and Top viewports, move the soft selection forward to form the nose. Turn off Soft Selection, and move the single end vertex to create the point.

   

10. The nose might be a little too pointy, so from the Left and Top viewports, scale an move the second column of vertices to round the nose.

    

11. To unhide the rest of the airplane, on the Display panel, choose Unhide By Name. Select all the components you have created (everything except the calibration box).
12. Change the color of the gondola to match the rest of the plane.
13. Make adjustments as needed. Select the row of vertices at the rear of the gondola and move them along the Z axis in the Perspective viewport, so the rear taper is hidden in the wing.

    You might also have to select the gondola and wing and move them up.

    

    P-38 with gondola

14. Save your scene as myp38_gondola2.max.

You can create the canopy using a couple of editable poly tools. You'll cut and chamfer to create this detail of the cockpit.

Add the canopy:

1. In the Perspective viewport, select the gondola, if it's not already selected, and zoom in so you can see a close view of the cockpit area.
2. On the Selection rollout, click Edge, then turn on Ignore Backfacing.
3. On the Edit Geometry rollout, turn on Cut.
4. Cut new edges into the cockpit. Click to set the beginning of an edge, then move the mouse to draw the new edge. Click again to set the end of the edge.

   

   Cut these new red edges to form one side of the cockpit.

5. Arc Rotate the view and make the same cuts on the other side of the cockpit.

   

   All these edges should be cut.

6. Click Cut again, to turn it off.

   Now, you can chamfer edges to create the metal frame of the canopy.

7. In the Selection rollout, turn on Ignore Backfacing and select the edges around the cockpit, as illustrated below.

   

   Select these red edges.

8. In the Edit Edges rollout, turn on Chamfer. Move your cursor over one of the selected edges, click and drag up until it looks like the illustration below, and then release the mouse button.

   

   Chamfer edges to create the metal canopy frame.

9. You can apply a transparent material to the canopy faces for extra detail. If you don't know how to create materials and apply them to polygons, see Creating Multi/Sub-Object Materials .

   

   P-38 gondola with completed canopy.

10. Save your work as myp38.max. Or you can open the completed file p38_lightning.max found in the \tutorials\p38_lightning folder.

Make sure the gondola is symmetrical:

The Symmetry modifier has been added to 3ds Max specifically for the purpose of building symmetrical models such as airplanes, boats and characters.

In the previous section, you cut a lot of edges to make up the canopy frame and glass. Some of those new edges may not be the same on either side of the gondola. Using the Symmetry modifier will ensure that the gondola is symmetrical.

You can continue from the previous section of open p38_lightning.max.

1. Select the gondola object.
2. In the Perspective viewport, right-click the gondola to open the quad menu and choose Isolate Selection.
3. Open the Modify panel and turn on Element mode and select the gondola.

   

   The selected element in red.

4. From the Edit Geometry rollout, click Slice Plane.

   The gizmo appears, but it's not in the right orientation.

5. Click the Select and Rotate button from the toolbar and enter 90 in the Z coordinate field below the time bar.

   

   The slice gizmo is rotated correctly.

6. If necessary, move the gizmo left or right so it's centered on the gondola.
   TipZoom in the Top viewport to better adjust the gizmo position.
7. When the gizmo is positioned correctly, click the Slice button. Turn off Slice Plane.
8. Turn on Polygon mode and in the Top viewport drag a selection window around the right side of the gondola.
   Tip In the Selection rollout, make sure Ignore Backfacing is turned off and maximize the Top viewport when dragging the selection window.

   

   Half the gondola is selected.

9. Press the Delete key and, if asked if you want to delete isolated vertices, click Yes.
   NoteYou might have to zoom in on the rear end of the gondola to select some very small polygons and delete them as well.
10. Turn off Polygon mode and choose Symmetry from the Modifier List.

    The Mirror gizmo appears at the gondola's pivot point.

11. In the Parameters rollout out, turn off Slice Along Mirror.

    The new half is created and it is automatically welded.

    

    The whole gondola

12. Turn off Isolation Mode to view the rest of the model.
13. If you're working on your own P-38, there are many more details you could add, such as propellers, machine guns, and landing gear. Feel free to continue on your own. The p38_lightning.max has some detail added.

    

    Propellers and machine guns added